16 things to do with the family this weekend at Whiteman Park

If you’re looking for the perfect day out with the kids, Whiteman Park is the ideal place for a jam-packed day of fun. From sprawling playgrounds and vintage train and tram rides to bike trails and feeding kangaroos, your little ones will be spoilt for choice!

Pack up a picnic and make a day of it, there’s so much to see and do for families at the Park. We’ve rounded up our top 16 things to do with children at Whiteman Park.

1. Climb the lighthouse in Pia’s Place

Pia’s Place is Whiteman Park’s newest attraction. This incredible, nature-based, all-inclusive playground is a space for fun, laughter, learning and discovery. The iconic lighthouse stands 13m high and offers some incredible views over the Park. Your kids will love whizzing down the giant slide after their climb to the top. Those who can’t or don’t want to summit the lighthouse can also marvel at the views via the screens in the tunnel!

2. Find the fairy doors in the Children’s Forest

The Children’s Forest is filled with treasures to uncover, and the newest addition are the magical fairies! There are fourteen fairy families living in the Children’s Forest – so take your little ones on a hunt to find them all! You can grab a map from the Visitor Centre or download one before you visit.

3. Take a selfie at Revolutions Transport Museum

Did you know Revolutions Transport Museum is WA’s only land transport museum? The kids will love exploring the exhibitions showcasing the various types of transport that’s been used in WA over the years. From the packhorse to the EJ Holden and the Singing the Train exhibit – there are so many things to discover.

4. Enjoy a barbecue lunch

When it comes to picnic spots, you’re spoiled for choice at Whiteman Park! We have acres of green space for you to enjoy and lots of public barbeques to use for just a few dollars (so remember to bring your $1.00 coins!). Bring your own supplies, or you can even grab a barbecue pack from the Village Café. Throw a rug down, relax and get those sausages sizzling! Don’t forget, if you’re celebrating a special occasion, you can also book shelters around the Park for the day!

5. Feed the kangaroos at Caversham Wildlife Park

Which child (or adult) can resist hand-feeding our gorgeous native emblem? Head to Caversham Wildlife Park to meet many of Australia’s unique native animals, including koalas, wallabies, possums, Tasmanian devils and wombats! Finish your day by hand-feeding the kangaroos and getting a selfie or two.

6. Go for a nature walk

There are three bushwalking trails at Whiteman Park - Werillyiup, Goo Loorto and Wununga – that encompass Horse Swamp, Bennett Brook and the Park’s banksia woodland respectively. The trails are well signposted and take you through some incredibly beautiful parts of The Park. The kids will love exploring these off-the-beaten-track walks.

7. Take a vintage train ride around the Park

Toot toot, all aboard! The Bennett Brook Railway operates vintage train rides around the beautiful banksia woodlands of Whiteman Park every Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and throughout the school holidays. Take a return trip to Mussel Pool (weekends only) or do the woodland loop and enjoy spotting our grazing (or lazing!) kangaroos amongst the beautiful banksia woodlands.

8. Ride your bike to the Lookout

Whiteman Park is a haven for cyclists, with a 14-kilometre network of cycling paths winding through the picturesque bushland. One of the highlights of the cycle trail is Lookout Hill, where you’ll be treated to incredible views across the Park. Head out of the Village and cycle around Mussel Pool, then head west past the workshops and you’ll find the Lookout. Once you’re done admiring the views, continue on past the Model Aircraft Centre and loop back alongside our wildlife sanctuary, Woodland Reserve.

9. Hire a Pedal Kart to explore the Park

If you want to explore the Park on four wheels, head to Pedal Play to hire one of their awesome karts! The whole family will enjoy pedalling around the 14 kilometres of shared use paths, winding through the natural bushland of the Park. Their single junior go-karts are suitable for ages 4yrs+, while the larger and two-seater go-karts with single or dual pedals are suitable for older children and adults. They even have a BERG Gran Tour four-seater family go-kart!

10. Go bird spotting in the Children’s Forest

The Children’s Forest is thriving with birdlife. Grab a checklist from the Visitor Information Centre, or download one before you leave and see how many species the kids can spot. Keep your eyes peeled for splendid fairy wrens, Australian ringneck parrots, New Holland honeyeaters and even the magnificent wedge-tailed eagles flying overhead.

11. Hire sports equipment from the Visitor Information Centre

Did you know that Whiteman Park has a multi-sport court located in the heart of the Village for basketball and tennis players, plus a cricket oval at Mussel Pool? If you don’t have the right equipment for our sports courts, there’s no need to worry. You can borrow everything you need from the Visitor Information Centre; just bring your driver’s license or similar to leave as security for the loan.

12. Buy sweet treats at The Lolly Stop

Make your family day out extra sweet with some treats from the Lolly Stop! This beautiful, vintage lolly shop has a huge range of local and international confectioneries from chocolate and fudge to lollipops and liquorice allsorts!

13. See the Settlers Cottage in the Tractor Museum

If you’ve got a child who loves machinery, head straight to the Tractor Museum! The giant shed is home to heaps of relics from WA’s agricultural past, including forty tractors plus plenty of stationary engines, vintage trucks and even a display of country life artefacts like the Settlers Cottage!

14. Go bug hunting and discover mini beasts!

The Children’s Forest and our bush trails are perfect places for mini explorers! Bring your magnifying glass with you or just get down on the ground and look for bugs and mini beasts! You can create a list of things for your kids to find, or just talk to them about the amazing creatures they discover.

15. Eat an ice cream

What family day out is complete without ice cream!? You can grab ice lollies and ice creams from the Village Café, Guerrilla Hub kiosk and the Lolly Stop. On weekends and during events like MiLi’s Made-It Markets, you’ll often find food vans in the Park for even more choice!

16. Find the mini motoring marvels at the Motor Musuem

There is a lot of motoring history at the Motor Museum of WA - but it isn't just for the big 'kids'! As you wander around the museum, be sure to look for the kids-sized campervan, the gorgeous Brumby car and more. The museum is also home to one of the largest collections of model cars in Australia! Plus if your kids look up to local boy, Daniel Ricciardo, be sure to stop by his 2014 Formula One Red Bull race car - the car he drove to win his first Formula One race in!